Apparatus for the comminution and disposal of waste material



.1. H. POWERS 2,220,729

APPARATUS FOR THE GOMMINUTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATERIAL Nov. 5, 1940.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 51, 1937 Inventor: James H. Power's max M117 w w I l-lis Att car-hey.

NOV. 5, 1940. H. POWERS I 2,22%729 APPARATUS FOR THE COMMINUTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 31, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8.

2d? 22 222 5 II 2/2 I170 A zzl was 44 so l w mgw Invent or: James H. Powers,

b9 ax? His Attornes.

1940- J. H. POWERS 2,220,729 APPARATUS F THE COMMINUTION A I P Fild Dec. 31, 1957 5 $heets-Sheet 5 V////// r I k A 1 V f 139 W J4 Hi5 Attorney. l

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 APPARATUS FOR THE COMMINU'I'I DISPOSAL or wss'rn MATERIAL Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to James H. Powers,

ONAND General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,775

31 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for comminuting and disposing of waste material, and has for an object the provision proved apparatus, of simplified and economical construction, for the comminution, by grinding,

crushing, or cutting, of garbage in the form ofvegetable matter, meat .bones and the like, and of other forms of waste material, and for the flushing of the comminuted material into a sewer system or the like with the aid of water.

Among the more-specific objects of the in vention are the provision of an improved housing construction; improved control mechanism, and improved agitating and comminuting-mechanlsm in an apparatus for disposing of waste material in a rapid, efllcient, and sanitary manner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improvements in waste disposal apparatus of the type disclosed in my Patent No; 2,185,037 granted December 26, 1939, and in the-Patent to A. Alexa'y, No. 2,156,075 granted April 25, 1939, both of which patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. t

Other objects and the details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims appended thereto taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an exemplary form of waste disposal apparatus embodying the present invention and incorporating an electric motor-driven grinding machine connected with the drain opening of a kitchen sink, or like structure, for receiving material to be ground and water for flushing into a sewer system, and having also safe-and easily operable control mechanism for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of installing my improved waste disposal unit beneath a kitchen sink or like structure; Fig. 2 illustrates a detail of the construction of the housing of the unit; Fig. 3 is a detail view, partially in section, of a part of the supporting structure; Fig. 4 is a plan view looking down on the top of the unit to show the control operating element; Fig. 5 is a section, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the upper part of the unit anddetails of the control mechanism with the control operating element in one position; Fig. 6 is another view, looking from the right at the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5, showing other details of the control mechanism; Fig. 7 illustrates the control mechanism with the control operating element in another position; Fig. 81s a side view, partially of an im-.

in section, of a part of the waste disposal unit shown in perspective in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 shows, partially in section along the line 9-9 of Fig.3, another detail of the housing; Fig. 10 is a vertical section along the line Ill-43 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 s is a horizontal section along the line ll-H of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a view of the bottom of an element shown in'Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a detail perspective of an element shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail plan view, partially cut 10 away, of a portion of the structure of Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a vertical section along the line l5--l5 of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a vertical section along the line l6-l6 of Fig. 15; Fig. 1'7 shows the structure 0! Fig. 15 with certain of the parts in different it'- positions; Fig. 18 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the structure of Fig. 10; Fig. 19 is a horizontal section along the line i9-I3 of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is an enlarged vertical. section of a portion of the structure of Fig. 8; Fig. 21 is a :0. horizontal section along the line 2l2l of Fig. 20; and Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a shredding element shown in section in Fig. 21 and forming part of my invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1-6 of the drawings, 33 designates a kitchen sink or like structure having a faucet 3| and a drain opening. Seated in the drain opening is an adapter ring 32 to which is connected the upper part 33 of the housing of the electric motor-driven appliso, ance, or waste disposal unit, embodying my pres- 'ent invention. The connection is made by means of an internally flanged supporting ring 34, which engages flanged portions of the adapter ring, as best shown in Fig. 6, and bolts 35 which extend 35 through a flange 36 on the upper end of housing part 33 into threaded engagement with the sup-'- porting ring. The upper ends of bolts 35 engage a clamping ring 31 to eifect compression of a gasket 40 of resilient material, such as rubber, 4% between the clamping ring and the underneath surface of sink 30. Another resilient gasket 4| is inserted. between the upper-flanged end 33 of housing part 33 and supporting ring 34, and bolts 35, where the pass through flange 36,- are surrounded by resilient bushings 42 which have enlarged lower end portions clamped between the lower face of flange 33 and the washers 43 and adjusting nuts 44 on bolts 35. Flange 36 has arcuate grooves 45 there around arranged to 00- operate with arcuate ridges 46 around ring 34 to compress resilient gasket 4l therebetween so as initially to tension portionsv of the gasket and thereby insure resiliency of the gasket under compression. The upper end of housing part 33 has 33 1y, if not entirely to also a sharp ledge 41 around the inner periphery thereof and arranged to cooperate with a similar sharp peripheral ledge 48 on the bottom of adapter ring 32 to compress and sharply bend the inner portion of gasket 4| to effect a moisturetight sealing of the junction between housing part 33 and adapter ring 32. In the connection arrangement Just described, bolts 35 are screwed up tightly against clamping ring 31, which is backed by gasket and sink 36 and which preferably is of relatively soft metal, so as to force supporting ring 34 down tightly onto the lower external flange of adapter ring 32. Thus the upper rim flange of the adapter ring is drawn down tightly. against the rim of the sink drain opening so that the adapter ring is secured rigidly relative to the sink structure. As a result of the arrangement described, housing part 33 is resiliently suspended from supporting ring 34, and the cushioning provided by resilient gaskets 46 and 4| and bushings 42 serves to minimize greatprevent, the transmission of noise and vibration from housing part 33 through rings 32 and 34 and bolts 35 to the sink structure.

Joined to the lower end of upper housing part 33, as best shown in Fig. 8, is a lower housing part 50, of frustro-conical form, which defines a grinding chamber 5| into which material to be ground may be fed through the cylindrical material admission passage 52 defined by upper housing part 33. The lower end, which is the larger end, of part is closed by means of a bottom plate 53 which is formed to cooperate with the lower end of part 50 to form a chamber for a flywheel 54 of a rotatable material impelling device later to be described, and the outer annular space 55 of which chamber is arranged to receive comminuted material and water from chamber 5|. Plate 53 is formed with a drain or discharge conduit 56 which communicates with annular material receiving space 55 and which is arranged for connection with a waste pipe of a sewer system or the like for the flushing of water and comminuted material out of the waste disposal unit; Preferably, such connection is made to a waste pipe 51 through a trap 58 and a suitable form of connection is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the end of conduit 56 extends slidably into the upper end of the pipe forming trap 58 to provide for vertical adjustment of the disposal unit relative to the sewer connection. A sleeve 59 of rubber or other suitable resilient and chemically resistant material is interposed between conduit 56 and pipe 58 to seal the junction while providing for relative sliding between the two parts. Further to insure the effectiveness of the seal, there is provided a gasket 66 of any suitable material compressed about sleeve 59 at the upper end of pipe 58 by means of a clamping nut 6|.

As will be seen best from Figs. 1 and 2, housing parts 33 and 56 are joined in such manner as to reduce greatly the possibility of transmission of noise and vibration from one to the other and to provide for selective relative rotation therebetween about the vertical axis of the housing. The attachment flanges 62 and 63 of housing parts 33 and 50 respectively are provided with arcuate slots 64 the midpoints of which are angularly displaced 90 relative to each other and each of which slots extends over an arc of approximately 45. The two housing parts are connected together by means of bolts 65 which are disposed in corresponding ones of the slots 64 and which haveclamping units 65'. Housing parts 33 and 50 have oppositely disposed annular recesses 66 and 66 respectively, in which is seated an annular gasket 61 of soft resilient material such as rubber. bushings 68, also of soft resilient material such as rubber, which have enlarged heads disposed between washers 69 and which extend into slots 64 to provide a resilient seating for connection bolts 65. Gasket 61 is made of suflicient thickness to maintain a small clearance, as indicated at 61, between the two housing parts when clamping nuts 65' are drawn up on bolts 65 sunlciently to hold the housing parts in their proper relationship. With this arrangement; gasket 61 is clampedbetween the two housing parts to seal the junction therebetween and to provide a very eflfective cushion between the housing parts, while bushings 68 cushion the bolts 65. Thus, there is provided a further insulation against the transmission of noise and vibration to the sink or like structure 36, to which housing part 33 is resiliently connected, from housing part 50 which supports the grinding mechanism and has the driving motor connected thereto as will be described hereinafter.

With connection bolts 65 disposed in the lefthand ends of the slots 64 in flange 62 and in the right-hand ends of the corresponding slots 64 in flange 63, the lower housing part 50 is disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 relative to the upper housing part 33, so that drain conduit 56 is located on the rear right-hand side of the unit, as shown. However, the slip joint between the two housing parts provides for selective adjustment of the position of lowerpart 50 so as to place conduit 56 in proper position for connection with sewer pipes located in dififerent positions relative to the sink drain opening. For example, if an installation is encountered wherein the sewer pipe is on the left-hand rear side, bolts 65 may be loosened and housing part 50 rotated 90 to the right relative to housing part 33 so as to bring drain conduit 56 into position to be joined to such sewer connection. In this latter case, bolts 65 would be disposed in the right-hand ends of the slot 64 in flange 62 and -in the left-hand ends of the corresponding slots 64 in flange 63. This is an important advantage of the housing structure in accordance with my present invention in that it provides a ready means for selective positioning of the drain conduit while permitting installation of the upper housing part in a proper position, relative to the sink structure, as illustrated in Fig. l. A further advantage of the two-part housing is that lower housing part 50, and the other elements of the unit attached thereto and hereinafter described, may be removed for replacement or servicing without disturbing the connection of upper housing part 33 with the sink structure.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 8 are illustrated the details of a supporting stand for resiliently supporting the waste disposal unit and for relieving the sink structure of a considerable portion of the weight of the unit. This supporting stand comprises a base member 1| and a plurality of uprights 12, three of such uprights being utilized in the embodiment illustrated. Base member 1| is approximately U-shaped in horizontal section and seats in a footing 13 of rubber or other suitable resilient material for preventing transmission of noise and vibration from the base member to the floor upon which the member is mounted.

Surrounding bolts 65 are designated 14, which are arranged to be received particular installation.

2,220,720 in elongated vertical slots I! in the upright members so as to provide for the upright members vertical adjustment of height of the sink structure encountered in any Fig. 3, each of the plates I8 is rigidly fastened.

beneath the outwardly extending flange 18 of bottom, plate 53 by means of one of the bolts 88 which serve to join flange I8 with the outwardly extending flange! 8I on the bottom of lower housing part 58, and whiclfbolts serve also to compress a sealing gasket I8 between the two flanges 18 and 8.I. shown in Fig. 3, are disposed on opposite sides of bolt 88 and are insulated from bracket portion I6 by means of bushings 82 of resilient material, which bushings surround the screws as they pass through bracket portion 18 and have enlarged heads clamped between bracket portion I8 and washers 88 carried by the screws. Between the bracket portion 16 and the plate 18 of each of the connections there are disposed washers 84 of resilient material, such as rubber, which are-disposed in surrounding relation to screws 11. With this arrangement, plates 18 are held rigid with respect to the disposal unit while the bracket portions I6 of uprights 12 are cushioned relative to the unit by means of the resilient bushings 82 and the resilient washers 84. This greatly minimizes the transmission of noise and vibration from the waste disposal unit to the supporting structure while, as previously pointed out, resilient footing I3 minimizes the .40 transmission of noise and vibration from the supporting structure to the floor. Thus it will be seen that the housing of the unit is resiliently suspended between supporting ring 34 and the supporting stand. The side walls of the base 45 member II illustrated provide a neat appearing partially enclosing casing for hiding the driving motor and a portion of its mounting which comprise parts of the waste disposal unit. The walls of the base member may be made higher so as 50 to hide more of the unit, or a base member of the type illustrated may serve in cooperation with a similar U-shaped elementto provide a vertically adjustable enclosing casing. For operation of the comminuting mechanism of the waste disposal unit, there is provided a motor 88 which is suspended, with its shaft extending vertically, end of a sleeve 88 formed integrally with and extending downwardly from bottom plate 53. The

- 60 connection between-motor 88 and flange 88 is in the form of a resilient suspension diagrammatically illustrated and inclusively designated 8|, which suspension does not form part of the present invention but is of the type described in de- 65 tail in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,089,066 to W. J. Morrill, issued Aug. 3, 1937, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The. drive shaft of motor 88 is connected with a suitable form of flexible coupling indicated at 82, and the upper end of this flexible coupling is connected by means of a pin 83 to a stub shaft 84 for driving the rotatable material impelling device, later to be described, of which fly-wheel 54 forms a part. The upper end of this stub shaft may be 75 connected with the fly-wheel in anysuitable in accordance with the.

The upper ends of the for connection Screws 11, one of which is from a flange 88 on the lower manner, but in the illustrated moment is cast into the fly-wheel and splined, as indicated at 88, I

at its upper end to prevent rotational displacement of v Shaft -84 has also an annular groove 88 for receiving a portion of the material of the fly-wheel to prevent longitudinal displacement wheel on the shaft.

The opening in bottom plate 88 through which shaft 84 extends has a bearing sleeve insert I88 cast thereinto and adapted to receive and support the outer race I8I ofa roller bearing assembly. The inner race I82 of the bearing assembly is pressed onto shaft 84,

rolls I83 are arranged between these two races in such manner as to provide a thrust bearing for the shaft and fly-wheel assembly. For lubrication of the bearing there is provided a grease cup fitting I84 which is carried by bottom plate 53 and which communicates through a passage I85 in the bottom plate and in sleeve I88 with an annular groove I88 in outer race I8I, which groove I88 is arranged to distribute lubricant through passages I81 in the outer race into the space between the two races occupied by rolls I88. The lower end of the opening in bottom plate 53 which accommodates the bearing assembly is closed by means of a cup-shaped plate I88.

An annular chamber H8 is provided in the lower part of fly-wheel 84 and arranged concentrically of shaft 84. In this chamber is disposed a thrust washer II I of the type shown in Fig. 13. This thrust washer is composed of any suitable wear resisting material which also is chemically resistant to grease and substances which may come into contact with the washer during the grinding and disposing of waste food products and the like. Washer III is pressed downwardly tightly onto the upper end of outer race IN by means of a packing washer II2 of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, which fits tightly about the portion of fly-wheel 54 which forms the inner wall of chamber II8. An annular metal cup washer H3 is provided for reinforcing packing washer II2. A plurality of springs II4, four of such springs being employed, in the illustrated embodiment, are disposed in angularly spaced apart bores I I5 in the fly-wheel and arranged to press downwardly upon cup washer II8 to effect tight engagement of the cup washer with thrust washer III and tight engagement of washer III with the upper siuface of outer race I8I. Thrust washer III has oppositely disposed ears II8 projecting outwardly into recesses II8 extending radially of chamber H8 in fly-wheel 54, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, to cause rotation of the thrust washer with the fly-wheel. Metal clips I28, supported on riveted-over projections I2I on the bottom of the fly-wheel, are arranged to engage the underneath sides of ears I I8 to prevent washer I I I from dropping out of chamber II8 during assembly or disassembly of'the fly-wheel, bearing and seal. In order to reduce the friction of engagement of the thrust washer with the upper end of outer bearing race I8I without at the same time reducing the effectiveness of the sealing action of the thrust bearing, there is provided in the bottom face of the thrust washer an annular groove I22 which is best shown in Fig. 12. Asa result of the sealing arrangement just described, water is prevented from. leaking from space 55 pastthe two washers III and 2 into the bearing while grease is prevented from leaking from the bearing into the space 55.

the fly-wheel relative to the shaft;

and two setsof tapered The bottom of fly-wheel 54 is provided also with approximately radially extending curved slots I23 which tend to collect and impel outwardly any water and comminuted material 5 which enters the space between the bottom of the fly-wheel and the adjacent surface of bottom plate 53. On the outer periphery of the flywheel are one or more integrally formed vanes I24 which, during operation of the waste disl posal unit when fly-wheel 54 is being rotated at a relatively high speed by motor 88, act in the manner of a centrifugal pump to impel the comminuted material and water outwardly from space 55 into drain conduit 56. The resultant l pressure in conduit 56 and the connected sewer system pipes tends to produce a forced flow of the water and comminuted material carried thereby through the piping system so as to prevent stoppage thereof and also tends to keep the pipes clean.

Energization of motor 88 is controlled by a suitable form of switching mechanism, inclusively designated I30 (see Figs. 1, and 5 to '1) which switching mechanism is connected to the motor by means of a suitable lead I3I and which is arranged to be connected to a wall socket, indicated at I32, by means of a suitable lead I33. The switching mechanism is mounted on the side of upperhousing part 33 by means of brackets I34 and screws I35. An enclosing casing, formed by a pair of side plates I36 and I31 secured to housing part 33 and a cover plate I38 fastened to the side plates by means of screws I39, is provided for the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism includes a switch arm I40 which projects upwardly and is received between spaced apart arms I4I of a switch operating lever I42. These arms I4I have elongated slots I43 for slidably receiving a transverse pin I44 carried by 40 switch arm I40. Operating lever I42 is rigidly fastened, by means of a bolt I45, on the outer end of a shaft I46 which extends through an opening in the side of housing part 33. Leakage of water through this opening is prevented by means of a packing washer I41 and'a packing nut I48 which surround shaft I46. 0n the inner end of shaft I46 is mounted a trip lever I50 which extends upwardly in housing part 33 to a point just beneath adapter ring 32. A tension 50 spring I5I is connected between switch operating lever I42 and side plate I31 for biasing lever I42 to its right-hand position, illustrated in Fig. 6, to effect movement of switch arm I40 to its ofl position so as to deenergize motor 88.

For operation of trip lever I50, and thereby the switching mechanism, there is provided an improved sink drain stopper or closure device similar to that disclosed in my previously identiiied patent. This stopper or closure device comprises essentially a cylindrical cup-shaped plug member I55, a baflle plate I56, and an actuating element or handle I51. Two opposite sides of the plug member are beveled inwardly at the bottom, as shown at I58, to provide substantially plane slanting surfaces arranged to engage inwardly slanting substantially plane surfaces of ledges I59 formed on opposite sides of the inner wall of adapter ring 32. By reason of the cooperative engagement of the beveled portions I58 of the plug member with the ledges I59 of the adapter ring, proper positioning of theplug member is insured and rotation of the plug member is prevented when it is seated in the adapter ring opening. As shown by the broken lines in Fig. 4,'baffle plate I56 has substantially the same shape as the bottom of plug member I55, in that the plate has oppositely disposed curved sides I60 which correspond to the oppositely disposed curved portions of the plug member and has also oppositely disposed straight sides I6I which cor- 5 respond to the oppositely disposed straight side portions I58 of the plug member. Plate I56 is mounted on the lower side of plug member I55 and is connected with handle I51 by means of pins I62 which extend downwardly from the 10 handle through arcuate slots I88 and I83 in the plug member and into riveted engagement with socket openings in the plate. The bottom of handle I51 has a downwardly projecting boss I84, located midway of the ends of the handle, 15 which boss projects through a centrally located opening in the plug member into a socket in the baflle plate to provide a pivot for rotation of the handle and the baflle plate, and pins I82 are disposed respectively adjacent the opposite ends 20 of the handle. Compression springs I are placed in annular recesses in the handle surrounding pins I82 and these springs by their engagement with the bottoms of the depressions and with washers I86, which washers bear against 25 the bottom wall of the plug member, serve to maintain the baflie plate in firm engagement with the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the plug member, while at the same time providing for free rotation of the handle and plate without 30 binding thereof against the bottom wall of the plug member.

Baflie plate I56 has a pair of arcuate slots I10 and I10 disposed at the same distance from the center of plug member I56 as the pair of arcu- 5 ate slots I63 and I63. The baffle plate has also two pairs of oppositely disposed openings HI and HI angularly displaced from each other and arranged at a lesser distance from the center of the plug member than slots I10 and I10. The 40 plug member also has two pairs of oppositely disposed openings I12 and I12 angularly displaced 90 relative to each other and disposed at the same distance from the center of the plug member as openings HI and I'll. When the 45 baille plate is in its position illustrated in Figs.

1, 4, 5, and 6, relative to the plug member, handle I51 points to the legend Remove on adapter ring 32 and portions of slots I10 and I10 in the baille plate register with portions of the slots 50 I63 and I63 respectively in the plug member, while openings HI and Ill in the baflle plate register with openings I12 and I12 respectively in the plug member so as to provide for drainage of water from sink 30 into the housing of the 55 waste disposal unit. Under these conditions the plug member may be removed from its seat in the opening in adapter ring 32 since the straight sides I6I of the bailie plate register with the straight sides I58 of the plug member and there- 60 fore do not engage the ledges I59 of the adapter ring. With the plug member seated in the adapter ring opening, handle I51 may be turned 45 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, until it points to the legend Seal on the 55 adapter ring, under which conditions slots I83 and I63 and openings I12 and I12 in the plug member are closed by solid portionsof the baffle plate so that flow of water from the sink through the adapter ring drain opening is prevented. Ro- 70 tation of the handle another 45, in the counterclockwise direction, to the position wherein it points to the legend on on the adapter ring. causes portions of slots I10 and IN to register with portions of the slots I88 and I63 respec- 75 under this last condition, one of the registers with one of the os I12 and the other of the openings III registers with one of the openings III', while one oi. the openings I'II' registers with the other of the openings Ill and the other of the openings III' registers with the other of the openings I12. Hence, when the handle indicates on, the closure device again permits flow of water from the sink into the waste disposal unit. when the handle indicates seal or "011, the curved portion of heme plate I88 extend under the ledges I88 of adapter ring 82 to prevent removal oi. plug member I58 from the adapter ring opening.

0n the bottom of baiiie plate I56 adjacent the periphery thereof are downwardly projecting cams I15 arranged. to engagethe upper curved end of trip lever I88. Two of these cams. angularly displaced 180 from each other, are provlded since the closure device may be placed in the adapter ring opening in two diflerent positions displaced 180 from each other. Hence, it is necessary to have the two cams so that one or the other of them may be made to engage lever I88, regardless of which of its two positions is occupied by the stopper device. When handle IBI indicates either remove or seal, neither of the cams I15 engages trip lever I50. However, when the handle is turned to the on"'position, one or the other of the cams. depending upon the positioning of plug member I88, engages the upper end of trip lever I88 to force it to the right, as indicated in Fig. 7, thereby causing lever I 82 tively. Also. openings III to move to the left, against the bias of spring IBI,

to move switch arm I48 to its on" position. The switching mechanism then effects energization of motor 88 to cause operation oi the grinding mechanism hereinafter described. Under these circumstances, with handle It? in on position, the slots and openings of the baille plate and plug member are in such registry, as previously described, as to permit flow of water from faucet 8| through the sink drain opening into the housing of the waste disposal unit to aid in the grinding Operation. Also, aspreviously pointed out, it is impossible to remove the stopper device from the adapter ring opening when the-handle is in "on position, so that an operator is protected from injury due to reaching into the housing of the unit while the grinding mechanism is in operation. There is suillcient friction between plate I56 and plug member I to hold cam IIi'in engagement with lever I58 and switch arm I48 in on position against the action of spring I 8| 55 However, immediately upon turning of handle I 51 in a clockwise direction toward the seal" or remove positions, trip lever I is released by cam I15 so that spring ISI becomes efl'ective to pull lever I42 to the right to move switch arm'llfl to oil position, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The lower surfaces of both cams IIB are slanted downwardly away from the trip lever, as will be seen from Figs. 5 and 7, so as to insure against binding 01' 65 the cams on the trip lever. From the foregoing description it will be seen that when handle I5! is in seal. position, so as to close the sink drain opening and prevent the flow of water therethrough to aid in the operation, the

7 driving motor 88 is deenergized by the switching mechanism. This partially insures against undesirable di'y operation of the unit. Also, when the handle is turned to remove position, for removal of the stopper device from the adapter 7 ring opening, the motor is deenergized so that trunnions I8 I carrying out the present invention it is 5 any one reaching into the he an of the unit will not be injured by the grinding m The comminuting mechanism of the present invention comprises in the main an improved stationary cutting and shredding device carried by the housing oi the waste disposal unit and an improved rotatable material impelling device for cooperation with the stationary cutting and shredding device. I The details of the rotatable impelling device will now be described with reference particularly to Figs. 8, 11, and 14 to 17. In

the top of fly-wheel I54 and respectively on opposite sides thereof are formed a pair of perlpheral compartments "8, one of which is shown in the detail views of Figs. 14 to 17, for receiving respectively a. pair of sector-shaped blades I88. These blades have integrally formed trunnions I8I projecting horizontally on opposite sides thereof for rotation of the blades in planes normal to the top surface ofthe fly-Wheel or, in

other words, in substantially vertical planes.

Thrust plates I82, of hard wear resisting bearing metal, are inserted in the fly-wheel structure at the bottoms of compartments I78 for supporting 0n the top of the fly-wheel is mounted a disk I 88 which throughout its central top area and the major portion of the remainder of its top area is fiat and free of obstruction. In

not necessary that the top. of the disk be absolutely flat, since disks having slightly concave or convex tops also may be employed, but it isof importance that the central top area and the major portion of the remainder of the top area of whatever disk is employed be substantially free of obstruction. Screws I84 serve to fasten the disk of the flywheel, and these screws operate in conjunction with vertical pins I to preventrotational displacement of the diskon the fly-wheel. Disk I88 has a pair of vertically extending peripheral slots I88 communicating respectively with comparta ments I18 and'arranged for vertically guiding blades I88. Projecting downwardly from the disk into the compartments and respectively on opposite sides of each of the slots I86, areintegrally formed side plates I81 which have bearing recesses I88 for receiving trunnions I8I. Thus, the trunnions are constrained to rotate on thrust plates I82 and in bearing recesses I88 so that proper. positioning of blades I88 is maintained. The blades are so formed that their weight is overbalanced toward the center of disk I83 with the result that normally, when the fly-wheel and disk are not in rotation, the blades occupy their inward or completely retracted positions, illustrated in Fig. 17, wherein the inward bottom surfaces of the blades rest upon bufler plates I89 inserted in recesses in the fiy-wheel structure at the bottoms of compartments I18. The bufier plates are made of rubber or other suitable resilient, wear-resistant and chemically-resistant material.

When motor 88 is energized in the manner previously described to cause rotation of fly-wheel 54 and disk I83, which rotation in the illustrated embodiment is in a clockwise direction as desig-' nated by the arrow in Fig. 11, blades I88 tend to fly outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force to their positions indicated in Fig. 15, wherein stop elements I98, formed integrally with and projecting engage the walls of the bottom of disk movement of the blades is retarded by rlungers I82, the rounded tops of which engage the unstop recesses I9I formed in I83. However, this outward outwardly from theblades,

- the leading portion derneath surfaces of the blades outwardly of their trunnions. Plungers I92 are disposed in vertical recesses I93 in the fly-wheel structure and are biased upwardly by means of coil compression springs I94 which are disposed in iongitudinal bores in the plungers and press against the bottom walls of compartments I93. Restricted orifices I95 are provided in the bottom of the fiy-wheel structure in communication with the bottoms of compartments I93 to permit only a gradual escape of air or other fluid medium from compartments I93, so that plunger I92, springs I94, compartments I93 and orifices I95 act in the manner of dashpots to retard outward movement of blades I80. This dashpot arrangement serves a double purpose. One of these purposes is the delaying of the movement of blades I to their operative positions, indicated in Fig. 15, until the driving motor attains a predetermined desired speed. The other purpose is to form a cushion for the blades so as to absorb shock and noise when the blades engage plungers I92, and further to prevent noisy impact of stop projections I against the walls of stop recesses I91. If motor 88 is stopped, or for any reason its speed is reduced below the desired minimum, the inwardly overbalanced weight of the blades tends to cause the blades to retract against the reduced centrifugal force. This retraction is accelerated by the action of spring biased plunger I92. Buifers I89 prevent noise and shock when the blades reach their completely retracted positions.

In order effectively to guide blades I80 and to brace them against damage or displacement due to impact thereagainst in horizontal planes, the top of disk I83 is provided with integrally formed irregularly rounded protuberances I98. Each of these protuberances is somewhat oval in plan view and is split longitudinally by one of the slots I86, as shown in Figs. 11, 14 and l6. Beginning at a point spaced from the center of the disk, the protuberance illustrated in the detail views of Figs. 14 to 1'1, slants outwardly and upwardly to a pair of rounded apexes 200 and 20I disposed respectively on the trailing and leading sides of blade I80. The apex 200 of the trailing portion 202 of the protuberance is higher than the apex 20I of the leading portion 203, and the trailing portion 202 slants outwardly and downwardly relatively gradually from its apex 200 to a point, indicated at 200 in Figs. 11 and 14, adjacent the periphery of the disk, where the trailing portion curves in to blade I80 adjacent the outer extremity of the blade. Thus the trailing portion 202 provides a large backing and bracing area for the trailing side of the blade. On the leading side of the blade, where such large backing 0 bracing area is not needed, the leading portio 203 of the protuberance has a lower apex 20I, as previously pointed out, and slants outwardly and downwardly more precipitously to apoint, indicated at 205 in Figs. 11 and 14, where 203 curves in to the blade, which point 205 is further removed from the outer extremity of the blade than the point 204. Thus the leading portion 203 of protuberance I96 leaves a considerable outward area of the leading side of the blade free for contact with material to be ground (see Fig. 8) In addition to providing guidance and bracing for the blade, the protuberance just described serves also, due to its being rounded both vertically and horizontally, to deflect and prevent entrance of material into slot I86 and compartment I18 and thereby reduces to a minimum the danger of jamming or other improper functioning of the blade. Moreover, the rounded contour of the leading portion 203 of the blade is operative, in

a manner which will be described more in detail 5 hereinafter, to deflect material upwardly over the blade when the rotatable impelling device is overloaded, thereby to prevent jamming of material between the blade and the stationary shredding element or walls of the housing of the unit with resultant stoppage of the rotatable impelling device. 7

The back of each of the sector-shaped blades I80 faces toward the center of disk I88 and curves upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 208, while the front, which faces outwardly toward the housing wall, is divided into an upwardly extending straight portion 201 and an outwardly projecting foot portion 208, the top of which foot portion curves outwardly and downwardly as shown at 208. The trailing parts of straight portion 201 and curved foot portion 208 are formed so that they lie approximately parallel with the circumference of disk I83 and the inner curved wall of housing part 50, as will be seen from Figs. 11 and 14, while the leading edges of portions 201 and 208 are beveled so as to provide faces 2I0 and 2 respectively which. slant inwardly from the circumference of disk I83 and the curved wall of housing part 50. Also, blades I80 are so arranged that their vertical planes of movement about trunnions I8I intersect the horizontal plane of the top of disk I83 in portions of chords disposed to the rear, relative to the direction of rotation, of parallel extending radii from the center to the circumference of disk I83. As a result of this arrangement of the blades, which will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 11, the front of each of the blades approaches the stationary shredding device, inclusively designated 2 I2, in such manner that any force against the blade, produced by reason of material between the front of the blade and the stationary shredding device, will have its main vector lying in the vertical plane of rotation of the blade, which plane slants backwardly at an acute angle to a radius extending from the center of rotation to the shredding device. Hence, such force will tend to rotate the blade straight back in its slot I86 and towards its retracted position rather than tending to twist the blade in a horizontal plane in a manner to cause binding of the blade in its slot I86 and bearing recesses I88.

With an understanding of the form and arrangement of the parts of the rotatable impelling 5:

device, its operation may now be described. While the waste disposal unit is idle and during the initial period of relatively slow rotation of the impelling device subsequent to energization of motor 88 in the manner previously described, 5

each of the blades I80 reposes in its inward and downward completely retracted position, shown in Fig. 17, wherein the curved back 206 of the blade lies beneath the overhanging curved wall 2I5 which forms part of the rear wall of slot 0 I86. Only a small part of the blade projects above the top of rounded protuberance I96, and the rear of beveled face 2I0 of the blade lies back substantially even with and parallel to the top of the rear portion 202 of protuberance I98, while 1 the beveled face 2 extends substantially horizont-ally and projects slightly above the top of disk I83. Under these conditions, the two beveled faces 2 I0 and 2 II cooperate with the rounded leading portion 203 of the protuberance to de- 1 venience and efiiciency of flect material upwardly and over the protuberance and blade with very little frictional resistance. Also, the flat main body portion of the top of disk I 83 offers practically no resistance to' rotation, and the wide angle space between the front of the blade and the wall of the housing reduces to a minimum the resistance to rotation at this point. Thus, even though the interior of the housing isfully charged with a more or less packed mass of material to be ground, the danger of stalling oi' the motor at the start is practically eliminated, and such little resistonce is imposed to rotation of the impelling device that the motor may attain its normal operating speed in a very short time. I This is of advantage not only from the standpoint of conoperation but. also in a low torque, low cost Other advantages of the low substanthat it permits the use of motor. ti'ally bottom of the housing are that it increases the capacity of the unit by permitting efflcient utilization of the whole of the space within the material feeding passage 52 and grinding chamber BI, and that it permits waste material, especially large pieces such as bones and grapefruit rinds, to reach the absolute bottom and zone of maximum eficiency of waste reduction in the grinding chamber.

When motor 88 attains a certain speed, blades I80 start to swing outwardly to their operative positions under the influence of centrifugal force. However, the dashpot arrangement, including resiliently supported plunger I92, cushions the blades so as to reduce the noise of starting and prevent stress on the parts such as would occur if the blades, unimpeded, should fly out quickly to their operative positions. The dashpot arrangement may also be adjusted so as to ail'ord sufficient delay in the outward movement of the blades to permit the motor to accelerate to full operating speed before the blades finally reach their extreme outermost operative positions illustrated in Fig. 15. Thus, the motor is able more efiectively to take care of the increased resistance to rotation resulting from the upward and outward movement of the blades to reduce the space between the fronts of the blades and the housing wall.

When blades I 80 are in their advanced or operative positions, illustrated in Fig. 15, and the impeller device is being rotated at proper speed, the rounded tops and backs of the blades produce a gouging, tearing, and scraping action on the material resting on disk I83 and this action serves to break up larger-objects such as bones, grapefruit rinds, and the like, and serves also, in case the waste in the grinding chamber has become packed, to reduce the packed condition. Due to the shape of the blades and the relatively small amount which they project above disk I83, the

action referred to is accomplished with a minimum of penetration resistance. The material in the grinding chamber is set in rotation by its frictional contact with the top of disk I83 and also -by impact with the blades and the protuberances I96. Thus it will be seen that the blades serve not only as cutters but also as impellers. Rotation of the material tends to cause the particles thereof to move outwardly toward the walls of the housing under the influence of centrifugal force, and this outward movement is unimpeded due to the slant of the inner portions of protuberances I96 and the curving of the backs of the blades which permits the waste to ride up and flat top impelling device located in the" '7 over the protuberances and blades toward the outside of the grinding chamber. Smaller particles of the waste are caught in the approximately V-shaped pockets, between the beveled faces 2"! and 2H '0! the blades and the wall of the housing so that these particles are positively forced against the stationary shredding device 2I2. Larger objects also are forced against the shredding device by the impelling action of the blades and centrifugal force. The waste material tends to pack in a mass around the outside of the grinding chamber and this packing, if it be comes acute, tends to slow down the impelling deviceand reduce the eiliciency of reduction oi. the material. However, the blades and protubto deflect material inwardly. The unobstructed low pressure area at the center of disk I83 provides a space into which the inwardly deflected material can'move and spread out and thus aids materially in preventing acute packing and congestion of waste around the periphery of the grinding chamber. The constant agitation or out and in movement of the particles of waste, due thereof by centrifugal force and the inward deflecting thereof by the blades andprotuberances, increases the efliciency of the reducing action since it insures a constantly changing position of the waste relative to the blades and shredding device so that no one object or body of waste is operated on to the exclusion of the remainder of the waste in the grinding chamber. This agitation of the waste has an added important advan tage in that it produces a thorough saturation of the waste with the water supplied to the disposal unit for aid in the grinding operation. This action is similar to that produced by alternately squeezing and releasing a sponge. The saturation of the waste results in the production of a flowable mixture which may pass readily from the grinding chamber to the plumbing system and which is ideal for plumbing drains.

In case objects tend to Jam between the impeller blades and the wall of the housing or the stationary shredding device, the resultant force is directed in a manner, as previously pointed out, to cause the blades to rotate inwardly toward their retracted positions, thereby increasing the angular space between the blades and the housing wall so as to relieve the jamming. A similar action takes place in case the rotating impelling to the outward impelling device becomes so overloaded as to reduce the speed of the motor. Inthis latter case, as the motor speed is reduced, the centrifugal force operating on the blades is reduced and spring pressed plungers I92 rotate the blades inward toward their retractedpositions. The resultant increase in the space between the blades and the housing wall, the backward and downward movement of the blades and the upward deflection of material by beveled faces 2M and 2, then operates in the manner previously described to reduce the resistance to rotation of the impelling'device so that the motor may speed up to normal operating speed, whereupon the blades again return to their advanced operating positions. Thus, the form and manner of mounting the blades in my improved impelling device practically prevents stalling of the motor, not only at the start, but also during operation. When the grinding operation is finished and the motor deenergized in the manner previously. described, the blades are'retumed to their retracted positions due to their inwardly overbalanced weight and the action of spring pressed plungers I92. Re-

silient buffer plates I89 reduce the operating noise and prevent material stresses when the blades are returned to retracted positions due to motor stoppage or when the blades are driven back by impact forces during operation.

The eificient operation and advantages of my improved impelling device just described may be secured with either one or morestationary shredding devices, and wtih shredding devices of different forms, such as, for example, of the form disclosed in the previously identified patent of A. Alexay, or modifications thereof. However, I have provided an improved stationary shredding device inclusively designated 2I2 and now to be described with reference more particularly to Figs. 20 to 22. This improved shredding device is of simple and economical construction and comprises in the main a supporting block 2I8 into which is cast a toothed insert 2I1, although the toothed insert or shredding element may be secured to the supporting block in other ways, if desired. Block 2I6 is disposed in a recess 220 which extends through the side wall of lower housing part 50, as best shown in Fig. 8. The

block has a flange 22I extending therearound and when the block is mounted in recess 228 this flange is cushioned on both its inner and outer sides by means of' bumpers 222 of rubber or other suitable material. The block and the bumpers are held inposition by flanges 223 which project inwardly from a closure plate 224 which covers the outer side of recess 228 and which is secured to housing part 50 by means of screw bolts 225. The arrangement of flange MI and bumpers 222 is such that the, cutting face of shredding element 2" projects into the grinding chamber for cooperation with blades I80, as shown in Fig. 20. Also, the cutting face of element 2II is maintained approximately in a surface of generation about the axis of rotation of the impelling-device. Bumpers 222 cushion the shredding device against both direct and reactive impact and materially lessen the transmission of noise and vibration from the shredding device to the housing. Insert 2II is comprised of stainless cutlerysteel, cemented carbide such as that designated by the trade name 'Carboloy, or other suitable hard and wear-resisting material. The back of the insert illustrated has dovetailed projections 226 for anchoring the insert in block 2I6. The cutting face of the insert, or shredding element, is formed with two sharp-edged curving ridges 221 and 228, although more than two such ridges may be employ-ed if desired. The edges of the ridges extend in arcs of circles having a common center, although the edges may extend in arcs having different centers, or may extend in approximate curves and approximately parallel. The shreddingelement is mounted so that material impelled against the element in the direction of rotation comes into contact successively with the ridges, and so that the apexes of the curving ridges face in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the impelling device. Thus the convex sides of the ridges are presented as the leading sides to material impelled thereagainst in the direction of rotation. A plurality of pairs of notches 238 and 23I areformed in the leading ridge 221 and trailing ridge 228 respectively with the two notches of each pair in line transversely of the face of the shredding element. These notches taper toward the rear or trailing side of the shredding element so that the spaces between the teeth 232, formed in the leading ridge by notches 238, are deeper than the spaces broader than the between the teeth 233 formed in the trailing ridge by notches 23I. Thus the trailing teeth 233 are leading teeth 232, as is clearly shown in Fig. 22. As a result of the form and arrangement of shredding element 2I'I, a variety of different reducing actions take place when material is forced against the shredding element by the rotatable impelling device. The material first contacts the leading or convex side of ridge 221 and is then deflected at a variety of angles through and over teeth 232 and 233. Since the teeth 232 of the leading ridge are deeper cut and narrower than the teeth 233 in the trailing ridge 228, due'to the upward slope of notches 238 and 23I toward the trailing side of the shredding element, the leading teeth effect an initial penetration of the waste to relatively coarsely shred, cut, and break up the material. The material then passes over the leading teeth 232 and through the notches 238 into contact with the trailing teeth 233 which due to the fact that they are to the fact that the ridges throughout major portions of their lengths slant in the direction of rotation, or, in other words, extend diagonally with respect to a generatrix of the surface of generation of the cutting face of the shredding element. While the cutting, shredding, and shearing action'is taking place, the shredding element tends automatically to be freed or cleared of material so that the element is in effect self-relieving to prevent jamming. Moreover, due to the way in which material forced against the shredding element meets the curved edges, the forces of impact of the material are greatly lessened and the cutting, shredding, and shearing action is effected with a minimum of penetration resistance.

Disk I83, in addition to serving as a supporting and guiding elementfor blades I80, serves also as a strainer element since the size of the particles of comminuted material which may pass from grinding chamber iii to annular receiving space 55 is controlled by the spacing or clearance between the rim of disk I83 and the lower rim of the portion of' housing part 50 which forms grinding chamber 5|. In the disposal unit illustrated, the disk is operative in cooperation with the lower rim of the grinding chamber wall to perform a secondary material reducing action through the agency of peripheral notches 236 in the disk and notches 231- in the lower rim of the grinding chamber wall. These notches will be described with reference more. particularly to Figs. 14, 18, and 19. Notches 231 may be formed directly in the cast lower housing part 50 which forms the grinding chamber, but in the'illustrated embodiment these notches are formed in a reinforcing band or ring insert 238 cast into housing part 50 at the lower rim of the grinding chamber. This insert is comprised of very hard, wear and corrosion-resisting material, of high tensile strength, such as heat treated stainless 2,220,722 drop down after being operated upon by the rotating impeller device and stationary shredding device. The trailing walls 239 of notches 236 are approximately straight and vertical so as to provide square shoulders which intercept the waste particles as they attempt to pass through the clearance between the disk and the housing wall. The leading walls 249 of notches 236 flare outwardly slightly relative to the trailing walls 239, as will be seen from Figs. 14 and 19, so as to provide a larger outlet or relief to prevent particles from lodging in the notches. Particles of material which drop into notches 236 therefore are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and such outwardly thrown particles are intercepted by the notches 231 in ring 238. These latter notches 231 extend above the top of the strainer disk and are somewhat wider to allow ready passage thereinto of the outwardly thrown particles. The trailing walls 2 of notches 231, that is the walls which are disposed in opposing relation to the oncoming approximately straight trailing walls 239 of notches 236, lie approximately in vertical planes radial with respect to the center of the grinding chamber so as to provide square shoul ders similar to the square shoulders of the trailing walls ofv notches 236. Thus the opposing square shoulders of walls 239 and 2 cooperate to produce a shearing action to further reduce the size of particles passing through the clearance between the strainer disk and the housing wall. The leading walls 242 of notches 231 flare outwardly at an acute angle to their trailing walls 2 and the outer walls 243 of notches 231 extend at a greater angle to the vertical than the wall of housing part 50 which forms grinding chamber 5|, as will be seen from Figs. 18 and 19.

. Hence, notches 231 are larger at the bottom'than at the top so as to provide a relieving action to facilitate the passage of particles of material downwardly and outwardly of the notches into material relieving space 55. Thus, it will be seen that notches 236 and 231 are eifective to produce a secondary reducing action and control of the size of material permitted to pass from grinding chamber 5| to space 55, while the form and arrangement of the notches is such as to prevent wedging and accumulation of material in the notches. The secondary reducing action of the notches is particularly advantageous in the disposal of flat leafy waste materials, such as pea pods, corn husks, artichokes, cabbage leaves, lettuce leaves and the like, which tend to slideflatwise through the clearance between the strainer disk and the lower rim of the grinding chamber. Such flat waste material is caught and sheared by the notches and reduced to a size and form which will not clog the disposal unit or the plumbing system. The notches function also to relieve the drag or resistance to rotation imposed by material in the small clearance between the strainer disk and the housing rim. If the strainer disk rim and the housing rim were smooth all the way around, considerable congestion and frictional resistance would be set up in the small clearance, but the clearance of the illustrated unit has a multitude of closely spaced small relieving spaces, provided by the notches, so that the congestion and friction are greatly reduced. Also, the fact that the notches flare toward the bottom results in acceleration of the waste downwardly from the clearance so as to prevent congestion. The bevel 244 around the upper rim of the strainer disk increases the time of exposure of larger pieces of Waste to the shredder element lower end of the 212 and tends to control the size of material which may enter the small clearance and the notches. Similar results slightly dishing, or rendering slightly concave, the top of disk I83 so that material impelled outwardly by centrifugal force will be deflected slightly upward by a raised outer portion of the disk; The pumping action previously described, of vanes I24 in space 55, also aids materially in preventing congestion in the clearance.

A further function of notches 236 and 231, particularly the latter which extend above the top of the strainer disk I83, is to proviue ample drainage for water from the sinkthrough the unit both when the unit is in operation and when it is not in operation. If the clearance between the strainer disk and housing wall were made sufliciently small properly to control the-size of material passing therethrough, and without employing the notches, there would be danger of stoppage of the clearance and filling up of the unit with wateriso as to overflow-into the sink. The notches permitproper control of the size of material while at the same time providing passages for .wvater to flow from the grinding chamber.

Under some conditions I have found it desirable to provide a conduit for lay-passing water around the strainer clearance, particularly in cases where large quantities of water are to be drained from the sink through the housing of the disposal unit when the latter is not in operation. Such a by-pass conduit may be provided, as shown in Figs. '8 and 9, by a duct or passage 246 formed in the outer surface of housing part 59. The outer side of this passage is closed by means of a gasket 241 and a plate 248 fastened to the housing part by bolts 249. The passage opens into space 55 just above drain conduit 56 and the upper end of the passage communicates through an elongated narrow vertical slot 250 with grinding chamber 51. Slot 250 opens into the grinding chamber considerably above the bottom of the chamber so as to prevent the driving ofmaterial thereinto by the rotatable impelling device. A vertically extending rounded ridge 25i is formed on the leading side of slot 250 to deflect material over the slot, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9, when a, body of material is being rotated in the grinding chamber by the impelling device. The passage of material and water over the slot during operation of the unit tends to create a suction which clears and keeps the slot free from stoppage. In case the clearance and notches at the bottom of the grinding chamber are unable to pass the whole amount of water supplied to the grinding chamber from the sink, the water will rise in the grinding chamber until it reaches slot 250 and then flow out through passage 246 to the drain conduit 56. Thus, backing up and flood- Cover plate 248 may be removed. for inspection and cleaning of passage 246. A further advantage of passage 246 is that it prevents the formation, in the flywheel chamber and material receiving space 55, of an air lock which would retard the passage of water from the interior of the housing of the disposal unit.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of my invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the exemplary embodiment illustrated, and I contemplate that various modifications and applications of the invention will suggest themselves may be attained by' ing of the water into the sink is prevented.

to one skilled in the art. It is my intention, therefore, that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and other applications as do not 'depart from the true spirit and scope of my present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a waste disposal apparatus, the combination of a housing providing a receptacle for waste material and having an opening for admission of material to the receptacle, said housing having also a waste discharge conduit for connection with a sewer or the like, relatively high speed motor operated means supported by said housing and operable for comminuting material in said receptacle, means for resilient suspension attachment of said housing to a kitchen sink or like structure, and a supporting stand adapted to be mounted on a portion of a building structure such as a floor or wali and having means cooperative therewith for resiliently supporting said housing, said stand and said attachment means providing for resilient suspension of said housing between a portion of a building structure on which the stand is mounted and a sink or like structure to which the housing is attached.

2. In a waste disposal apparatus, the combination with a unitary waste disposal appliance including a housing having means including detachably joined upper and lower housing parts defining a receptacle for waste material and power driven means for comminuting material in said receptacle, said upper housing part providing a material admission passage and having means for relatively permanent fixed attachment to a sink or like structure independently of said lower housing part, said lower housing part defining a grinding chamber and supporting said power driven means and having a discharge conduit for comminuted material; of an adjustable supporting stand for said appliance comprising a floor mountable rigid base member having side walls affording a shield for at least partially enclosing and concealing parts of said appliance and have ing vertically adjustable bracket elements detachably connected with said lower housing part for supporting the appliance.

3. In a waste disposalapparatus, the combination with a unitary waste disposal appliance including a housing providing a receptacle for waste material and power driven means for comminuting waste material in said housing, of a separable supporting stand for said appliance comprising a U-shaped base member of relatively rigid construction having vertically extending side walls providing a shield at least partially enclosing and concealing said appliance on three sides and bracket means carried by said base member and detachably connected with said housing for supporting the appliance.

4. In combination with a sink or like structure, a unitary waste disposal appliance including a housing providing a receptacle for waste material and having a material admission opening in the upper end thereof and power driven means for comminuting material in said housing, means for connecting said housing with said structure with said opening in registry with an opening in said structure, and a floor mounted separable supporting stand for said appliance comprising a base member of relatively rigid construction having side walls providing a shield for at least partially enclosing and concealing said appliance and having substantially vertically adjustable br ket elements detachably connected with said housing for supporting the appliance.

5. In a grinding machine, an enclosing housing having wall portions defining a chamber for comminution of material therein and having an opening in the bottom thereof, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a rotatable material impelling device, which said device includes a member supported for rotation in said housing substantially coaxially of said opening with the top of the member disposed adjacent the bottom of said chamber, which said top has a generally fiat disk-like contour with a central portion substantially free of obstruction and has an overall area substantially the same as said opening, said device including also material impelling and reducing means supported for rotation with said member and arranged to project upwardly from the top of the member outwardly of said central unobstructed portion, and power means operative to rotate said device at relatively high speed to cause high speed impingement of said impelling and reducing means against material in said chamber.

6. In a grinding machine, an enclosing housing having wall portions defining a chamber for comminution of material therein, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a substantially vertical axis material impelling device, which said device includes a member supported for rotation in said housing with the top of the member located adjacent the bottom of said chamber, which said top has a generally flat disklike contour with a central portion substantially free of obstruction and the outer portion of which top extends in close proximity to the walls of said chamber adjacent the bottom of the chamber, said device including also material impelling means supported for rotation with said member and arranged to project upwardly from the top of the member outwardly of said central unobstructed portion, and power means operative to rotate said device at a speed suflicient to cause said impelling means to impart relatively high speed rotation and agitation to material in said chamber.

7. In a grinding machine, a housing having wall portions defining a chamber for comminution of material therein, a member supported for rotation in said housing about a substantially vertical axis with the top of the member located adjacent the bottom of said chamber, which top is of generally flat disk-like contour with a central area substantially free of obstruction and the diameter of which top is at least substantially equal to the diameter of the adjacent portion of said chamber, material impelling elements supported for rotation with said member and having portions arranged to project upwardly from the top of the member outwardly of said unobstructed area, the inwardly facing surfaces of said elements slanting relatively smoothly upwardly and outwardly from said central area in order to provide minimum resistance to movement of material outwardly from said central area toward the periphery of said top, and power means operative to rotate said member at a speed suflicient to impart relatively high speed rotation to material in said chamber.

8. In a grinding machine, an enclosing housing having wall portions defining a substantially vertical axis chamber for comminution of material therein, stationary material reducing means supported her supported for rotation in said housing about contour with a central area substantially free of obstruction and the outer portion of which top extends in close proximity to the walls of saidchamber, material impelling means supported for rotation with said member and arranged to project upwardly from the top of the member outwardly of said unobstructed central-area, and power means operative to rotate said member at relatively high speed so as to cause said impelling means to effect relatively high speed rotation and agitation of material in said chamber and relatively high speed impingement of such material against said stationary reducing means.

9. In an apparatus for disposal of waste material such as garbage and the like, a housing defining a chamber for reception of water and waste material to be comminuted and having an opening in the bottom thereof, a waste discharge conduit connected with said opening and adapted to be connected with a sewer or the like, stationary cutting means supported at the side of said chamber, a substantially vertical axis member supported for rotation adjacent the bottom of said chamber and having a generally fiat disklike top, the central area of which top is substantially free of obstruction and the outer portion of which top extends in proximity to the walls of said chamber, material impelling means supported for rotation with said member and arranged to project upwardly from the top of the member outwardly of said central unobstructed area, and power means operative to rotate said member at relatively high speed to cause said impelling means to impel material at relatively high speed against said stationary cutting means.

10. In an apparatus for disposal of waste material such as garbage and the like, a housing defining a chamber for reception of water and waste material to be comminuted and having an opening in the bottom thereof, a waste discharge conduit connected with said opening and adapted to be connected with a sewer or the like, stationary cutting means supported at the side of said chamber, a substantially vertical axis member supported for rotation adjacent the bottom of said chamber and having a generally fiat disklike top with a central area substantially free of obstruction, a material impelling element supported for rotation with said member and for movement outwardly in a generally radial direction to a position for cooperation with said stationary cutting means, said element having a portion arranged to project above the top of said member outwardly of said central unobstructed area when said element is in outward operative position, biasing means for restraining said element in an inwardly retracted position when said member is not in rotation, and power means operable to rotate said member at a speed at least sufficient to effect outward movement of said element under the influence of centrifugal force.

11. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device comprising an element rotatable in said housing and having a substantially flat disk-like surface facing said chamber, said surface having a central area free of obstruction, a material impelling member carried by said element and supported for movement outwardly toward the periphery of said element, said member having a portion arranged to project from said surface outwardly of said central unobstructed area when said member is in its outward operative position, bias ing means for maintaining said member in an inwardly retracted position when said element is not in rotation, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufiicient to efiect outward movement of said member to operative position under the influence of centrifugal force.

12. In apparatus for the comminution of materialand including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device comprising an element rotatable in said housing and having a substantially flat disklike surface facing said chamber, said surface having a central area free of obstruction, a material impelling member supported by said element for movement outwardly to an operative position under the influence of centrifugal force and biased for movement to an inwardly retracted position when said element is not in rotation, said member when in its said outward operative position having a portion projecting from said surface outwardly of said central unobstructed area, bracing and guiding means for said member including a roundedprotuberance on said surfacedisposed outwardly of said central area, which said protuberance has portions disposed on the trailing and leading sides of said member and at the back of said member toward said central area, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufficient to effect'outward movement of said member to operative position under the influence of centrifugal force.

13. In apparatus for the comminution of mate rial and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device comprising an element rotatable in said housing and having a substantially fiat disk-like surface facing said chamber, said surface having a central area free of obstruction, a material impelling member a portion arranged to project from said surface outwardly of said central unobstructed area when said member is in its outward operative position, a protuberance on said surface having a portion disposed at the back of said member toward said unobstructed central area, which said portion of saidprotuberance has a surface substantially smoothly slanting outwardly and upwardly from said central area, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufficient to effect outward movement of said member to operative position under the influence of centrifugal force.

14. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device comprising an element rotatable in said housing and having a substantially flat disk-like surface facing said chamber, a material impelling member supported by said element for movement outwardly to an operative position under the influence of centrifugal force and biased for movement to an said member, said member when in its said outward operative position having ing beyond said portion of said impelling engagement with a portion projectprotuberance for material in said chamber, the leading surface of said portion of said protuberance being rounded in a manner to effect smooth deflection of material over said member when the member is in a retracted or substantially retracted position, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufl'icient to effect outward movement of said member to operative position under the influence of centrifugal force.

15. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a substantially vertical axis grinding chamber, a material impelling device comprising an element rotatable adjacent the bottom of said chamber about a substantially vertical axis and having a substantially flat disk-like top, the central area of which top is free of obstruction, a material impelling member supported by said element for movement outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force and biased for movement to an inwardly retracted position when said element is not in rotation, said member having a portion projecting above the top of said element and said portion having a back surface, toward said central area, which slants smoothly upwardly and outwardly relative to said central area so as to provide minimum obstruction to material moving outwardly from said central area toward the periphery of said element and minimum obstruction to retraction of said member toward its inward position, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufllcient to effect outward movement of said member to operative position under the influence of centrifugal force.

16. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device including an element rotatable in said housing, a member pivotally supported bysaid element for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane substantially normal to the plane of rotation of said element, power means operable to rotate said ele-- ment at a speed at least sufficient to cause said member to move outwardly toward the periphery of said element under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, and biasing means operative to effect movement of said member inwardly toward a retracted position upon reduction in the speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit.

1'7. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, a material impelling device including an element rotatable in said housing, which said element has a surface facing said chamber and a recess adjacent the periphery of said element and in communication with said surface, a member pivotally supported in 'said recess for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane substantially normalto the plane of rotation of said element, power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least suflicient to cause said member to move outwardly toward the periphery of said element under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, said member having a portion arranged to project out of said recess beyond said surface when said member is in an outward position, and biasing means operative upon reduction in the speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit for effecting movement of said member inwardly toward a retracted position wherein a major portion of said member is hidden in said recess.

18. In apparatus for the comminution of maaaeopaa terial and including a housing defining a grind ing chamber, a material impelling device including an element rotatable in said housing about a substantially vertical axis, a member pivotally supported by said element for movement inwardly and outwardly in a substantially vertical plane, and power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least suflicient to cause said member to move outwardly toward the periphery of said element under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, the weight of said member being overba'lanced inwardly of its pivotal support so as to exert a biasing force on said member tending to effect movement of the member inwardly toward a retracted position up'on reduction in the speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit.

19. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a substantially vertical axis grinding chamber and a stationary cutting device supported by said housing at the side of said chamber, a device for impelling material against said stationary cutting device and including an element rotatable adjacent the bottom of said chamber about a substantially vertical axis and having a substantially flat top with a central portion of said top free, of obstruction, said element having also a recess communicating with said top adjacent the periphery thereof, a member pivotally supported in said recess for movement inwardly and outwardl'y in a substantially vertical plane, power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufiicient to cause said member to move outwardly toward the periphery of said'top under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, stop means for stopping said member in a predetermined outward position for cooperation with said stationary device in the comminution of material, means for delaying and cushioning the outward movement of said member to its said outward position, means operative upon reduction in speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit for effecting movement of said member inwardly to a retracted position, and resilient means said member upon movement thereof to retracted position.

20. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber the wall of which is a substantially regular surface of generation, and a stationary cutting device in said chamber; a material impelling device including an element rotatable in said housing adjacent said stationary device and substantially coaxially of said chamber, a member pivotally supported by said element for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane substantially normal to the plane of rotation of the element, power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufficient to cause said member to move outwardly to an operative position under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, said member having a portion which, when the member is in its said outward operative position, extends relatively closely to the wall of said chamber and substantially parallel with a generatrix of said wall for cooperation with said stationary cutting device in the comminution of material, and means operative upon reduction in the speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit for effecting movement of said member inwardly toward a retracted position, said portion of said member extending in substantially spaced acute for cushioning angular relationship with said chamber wall when said member is in retracted position.

21. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber the wall of which is a substantially regular surface of generation, and a stationary cutting device in said chamber; a material impelling device including an element rotatable in said housing adjacent said stationary device and substantially coaxially of said chamber, a member pivotally supported by said element for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane substantially normal to the plane of rotation of the element, power means operable to rotate said element at a speed at least sufiicient to cause said member to move outwardly to an operative position under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotation of said element, said mendber having a portion which, when the member is in its said outward operative position, extends relatively closely tothe wall of said chamber and substantially parallel with a generatrix of said wall, said portion of said member having a beveled leading edge for directing material against said stationary cutting device, and means operative upon reduction in the speed of rotation of said element below a predetermined limit for effecting movement of said member inwardly toward a retracted position, said portion of said member extending in substantially spaced acute angular relationship with said chamber wall when said member is in retracted position,

22. In an apparatus for comminution of waste material such as garbage and including a housing defining a grinding chamber and a rotatable material impelling device in said chamber; a unitary stationary shredding device supported on one side of said chamber and having a cutting surface of substantial breadth and height facing toward the center of said chamber, for cooperation with said impelling device, which said cutting surface lies substantially in a surface of generation about-the axis of said impelling device and has a plurality of elongated sharp-edged ridges extending in closely spaced substantially parallel side by side relationship, said ridges throughout substantial portions of their lengths extending diagonally with respect to a generatrix of said surface of generation and slanting in the direction of rotation of said impelling device, the

tops of said ridges being notched to form a plurality of teeth therein.

23. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defininga grinding chamber, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a stationary shredding device supported by said housing and a rotatable material impelling device having means for impelling material substantially in the direction of rotation against said stationary device, said stationary shredding device including a shredding element having a cutting face provided with a plurality of sharp-edged substantially parallel curving ridges arranged so as to present convex sides of said ridges to material impelled thereagainst in the direction of rotation of said impelling device.

24. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a stationary shredding device supported by said housing and a rotatable material impelling device having means for impelling material substantially in the direction of rotation against said stationary device, said stationary shredding device including a shredding element having a cutting face provided with a plurality of sharp-edged substantially parallel curving ridges arranged so as to present convex sides of said ridges to material impelled thereagainst in the direction of rotation of said impelling device, each of said ridges having transversely extending notches formed therein so as to define a multiplicity of teeth in each of said ridges.

25. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a stationary shredding device supported by said housing and a rotatable material impelling device having means for impelling material substantially in the direction of rotation against said stationary device, said stationary shredding device including a shredding element having a cutting face provided with a.

plurality of sharp-edged substantially parallel ridges arranged to be engaged successively by material impelled against said element in the direction of rotation of said impelling device, said ridges; having transverse -notches formed there'- in so as to define a multiplicity of teeth in said ridges, said notches tapering from the leading side toward the trailing side of said element so that in a leading one of said ridges the notches are deeper and the teeth narrower than are the notches and teeth respectively in the immediately adjacent trailing ridge.

26. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, means for comminuting material in saidbhamber including a stationary shredding device supported by said housing and a rotatable material impelling device having means for impelling material substantially in the direction of rotation against said stationary device, said sta-' ridges/said notches tapering from the leading side toward the trailing side of said element and the notches in a trailing one of said ridges being in effect alined extensions respectively of the notches in the next adjacent leading one of said ridges so that the notches in said one trailing ridge are narrower and shallower than the notches in said one next adjacent leading ridge.

27. In apparatus for the comminution of material and including a housing defining a grinding chamber, means for comminuting material in said chamber including a stationary shredding device supported by said housing and a rotatable material impelling device having means for impelling material substantially in the direction of rotation against said stationary device, said stationary shredding device including a shredding element having a cutting face lying approximately in a surface of generation about the center of rotation of said impelling device, said surface being provided with a pair of sharp-edged substantially parallel curving ridges arranged so as to present convex sides of said ridges to material with transverse notches formed in the leading one of said ridges, the teeth in said leading ridge formed by the notches therein being narrower than the teeth in said trailing ridge formed by the notches therein.

28. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a housing defining a substantially vertical axis grindingchamber having a substantially circular lower rim, means providing a space below said rim for receiving comminuted material, and means for comminuting material in said chamber including a material impelling device having adjacent said lower rim of said chamber an element rotatable coaxially of said chamber, said element having a'substantially circular periphery in closely spacedrelation to said lower rim ofsaid chamber to form a clearance for passage of comminuted material from said chamber into said space and said element having a substanially fiat top peripheral portion with a multi- ,plicity of substantially evenly spaced notches formed in the outer edge'thereof in communication with the top of the element, the trailing walls of said notches being substantially straight so as to provide sharp shoulders and the leading walls of said notches being flared at an angle relative to said trailing walls so that said notches are wider at the outside and bottom than at the inside and top respectively, the said lower rim of said chamber also having formed therein a multiplicity of substantially evenly spaced notches deeper and wider at the bottom than at the top and having substantially straight trailing walls to form sharp shoulders arranged to be in opposed relationship with the said sharp shoulders of said first mentioned notches for the shearing of material passing through said clearance.

29. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a housing defining a substantially vertical axis grinding chamber having a substantially circular lower rim, means providing a space below said rim for receiving comminuted material, and means for comminuting material in said chamber including a material impelling device having adjacent said lower rim of said chamber an element rotatable coaxially of said chamber, said element having a substantially circular periphery in closely spaced relation to said lower rim of said chamber to form a clearance for passage of comminuted material from said chamber into said space, said element having also a substantially flat top peripheral portion with abeveled outer edge and a multiplicity of substantially evenly spaced peripheral notches formed therein in communication with the top of the element, portions of the trailing walls of said notches lying in planes substantially radial relative to the center of said element and the leading walls of having adjacent said lower rim of said chamber an element rotatable coaxially of said chamber, said element having a substantially fiat top peripheral portion with a substantially circular rim in closely spaced relationship to said lower rim of said chamber to form a clearance for passage of comminuted material from said chamber into said space, the said lower rim of said chamber having formed therein a multiplicity of substantially evenly spaced notches which are deeper and wider "at the bottom than at the top and the tops of which notches extend above the level of said fiat top peripheral portion of the said rotatable element.

31. In apparatus for the comminution of ma terial, a housing having therein agrinding chamber and having an opening for admission of material into said chamber, said housing also being adapted for the 'supply of water thereinto, means including a rotatable material impelling device for comminuting material in said chamber, means providing a relatively small clearance adjacent the bottom of said chamber for the passage of water and comminuted material from said chamber, a discharge conduit communicating with said clearance for receiving therefrom water and comminuted material and adapted for connection with a waste pipe of a sewer system or the like, means providing a duct for by-passing water around said clearance, the upper end of said duct opening into the interior of said housing through an elongated substantially vertically extending and relatively narrow slot disposed substantially above the level of said clearance, the lower end of said duo-t communicating with said discharge conduit, and means on the leading side of said slot, relative to the direction of rotation of said device, for deflecting material over said slot.

JAMES H. POWERS. 

